The term 'laboratory' can be defined as a facility which provides controlled conditions for scientific research, experiments or measurements. In recent years, many lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, which provide controlled conditions for scientific measurements without a formal laboratory, have been developed and used in a wide array of biomedical and other analytical settings. LOC devices integrate and scale down laboratory functions and processes to a miniaturized chip format. In this context the term 'chip' is used loosely, unlike the 'traditional' silicon chip from electronics. LOC devices, or chips, can be fabricated from many types of material including various polymers (e.g. acrylic, polyester, and polycarbonate), glass, or silicon, as well as combinations of these materials (Herold and Rasooly 2009. Lab-on-a-Chip Technology. Caister Academic Press ISBN: 978-1-904455-47-9).

In this context the term 'chip' is used loosely, unlike the 'traditional' silicon chip from electronics. LOC devices, or chips, can be fabricated from many types of material including various polymers (e.g. acrylic, polyester, and polycarbonate), glass, or silicon, as well as combinations of these materials. Unlike the 'traditional' silicon integrated circuit (IC) fabrication technologies, a broad variety of fabrication technologies are used for LOC device fabrication.

Bibliography:

1. Lab-on-a-Chip Technology: Fabrication and Microfluidics
2. Lab-on-a-Chip Technology: Biomolecular Separation and Analysis

Labels: biochip, lab on a chip, LOC, microfluidics